Lower Limb (LL) Anatomy: Skeleton, Muscles, Blood Supply, and Nerves

This flashcard set covers the vocabulary and anatomical concepts of the lower limb including skeletal structures, muscle groups, clinical conditions, and neurovascular pathways based on the lecture transcript.

Serial homology

The similarity between upper and lower limb structures because they are repeated segmental structures derived from somites.

Somites

Segmental structures in the embryo that give rise to the bones and muscles of both the upper and lower limbs.

Pectoral girdle

The connection between the upper limb appendicular skeleton and the axial skeleton, composed of the scapula and the clavicle.

Pelvic girdle

The connection between the lower limb appendicular skeleton and the axial skeleton, composed of the ilium, ischium, and pubis.

Brachial plexus

A complex network of the cervical and thoracic ventral ramus that provides somatomotor innervation to the upper limb.

Lumbo-sacral plexus

A network formed by the lumbar and sacral ventral ramus that provides somatomotor innervation to the lower limb.

Origin

The fixed, non-movable attachment point of a muscle.

Insertion

The movable attachment point of a muscle that is pulled toward the origin during contraction.

Abduction

A movement that takes a limb away from the midline of the body.

Adduction

A movement that brings a limb closer to the midline of the body.

Dorsiflexion

An ankle joint movement where the toes point upwards.

Plantar flexion

An ankle joint movement involving raising the heel or pointing the toes downward, such as walking on tippy toes.

Inversion

A movement at the sub-tala or intertassel joint where the sole of the foot turns medially or inward.

Eversion

A movement at the sub-tala or intertassel joint where the sole of the foot turns laterally.

Gluteal tuberosity

A rough area on the posterior surface of the proximal femur that serves as an insertion point for a muscle.

Linea aspera

A rough, gritty ridge extending along the posterior surface of the femoral shaft.

Adductor tubercle

A small projection on the medial side of the distal femur used as an insertion point for one of the large adductor muscles.

Malleolus

Bony overhangs at the ankle; the tibia has a medial malleolus and the fibula has a lateral malleolus.

Interosseous membrane

A connective tissue band or membrane that holds the tibia and fibula together.

Phalanges

The bones of the digits; the big toe has $2$ while toes $2\text{ to }5$ each have $3$ named proximal, middle, and distal.

Tibiofemoral joint

The anatomical term for the knee joint, which acts as a hinge joint providing extension and flexion.

Menisci

Shock absorbers of the knee joint made of cartilage and fibrous tissue, consisting of a lateral meniscus and a medial meniscus.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)

A ligament that prevents the tibia from moving too much anteriorly, thereby preventing hyperextension.

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)

A ligament that prevents the tibia from moving too much posteriorly, thereby preventing hyperflexion.

Patella

A sesamoid bone suspended within the patellar ligament.

Proprioception

The ability to recognize the position of your limbs in space through sensory inputs in the muscles.

Iliosoya's

The muscle formed by the psoas major and iliacus muscles after they pass the inguinal ligament and share an insertion on the lesser trochanter.

Quadriceps group

A group of $5$ anterior thigh muscles that generally extend the knee joint; $4$ of them insert on the tibial tuberosity.

Sartorius

Known as the Taylor's muscle, it flexes the knee and hip while laterally rotating the hip to facilitate crossing the legs.

N spessarina

A shared insertion point on the medial proximal tibia for the sartorius, gracilis, and semitendinosus muscles; it is noted to resemble a duck's foot.

Tensor fascia latte

A lateral gluteal muscle originating from the iliac crest and inserting into the ileotibial tract.

Adductor hiatus

An opening or passageway created by the two insertions of the adductor magnus muscle for blood vessels to pass through.

Hamstring group

A group of posterior thigh muscles including the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, and semimembranosus that flex the knee and extend the hip.

Achilles tendon

A common tendon for the gastrocnemius, plantaris, and soleus muscles that inserts onto the posterior calcaneus.

Femoral triangle

An area in the inguinal region containing the femoral artery, femoral vein, and femoral nerve.

Popliteal artery

The continuation of the femoral artery after it enters the adductor hiatus and travels to the posterior side of the knee.

Dorsalis peebus artery

The name of the anterior tibial artery after it passes the ankle joint and runs on the dorsum of the foot.

Great saphenous vein

A superficial vein on the medial side of the limb used clinically for heart bypass surgeries.

Sciatica

A collection of symptoms including pain, tingling, and difficulty in movement caused by irritation or damage to the sciatic nerve.

Food drop

A clinical condition characterized by the loss of dorsiflexion due to injury of the common fibrillar or deep fibrillar nerve.

Tarsar Tannum Central

A condition where the tibial nerve is compressed in the tight space behind the medial malleolus, similar to carpal tunnel syndrome.